The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Thanksgiving Edition
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 26, 2009 3:05 PM EST
in News
42 comments
It's Thanksgiving day, and not really a time for much blogging. I will shortly be leaving to pick up my father, but before I do, I wanted to wish a very happy Thanksgiving to all the members the A Sea of Blue community. I am very thankful for all our members and readers, more than I can accurately express here.
Continuing with the subject of things I am thankful for, let me list a few of them:
- My faith, friends and family. They are the foundation of all I hold dear.
- My countrymen and women. This great experiment in a democratic republic continues to amaze me.
- The men in women in uniformed service who defend our country from without and within. Thank you.
- Rich Brooks -- Brooks has helped restore my faith in the UK football program.
- The football team, for believing in themselves, and in their teammates.
- Duke University -- Without a foe to despise, life as a sports fan would be less fulfilling.
- Patrick Patterson -- Not only a great player, but a great person.
- The basketball team, for validating my faith in the program.
- John Calipari -- The Tubby Wars and the Gilispie Strangeness are now finally in the past. The UK community has returned to sanity, and it is good.
- John Wall -- For being one of the best freshmen at UK I can remember, and for showing us what it is like to smile again during a basketball game.
- Randall Cobb -- For keeping his word that he gave to UK when offered a chance to attend the school he really wanted to play for. Also, for being the kind of player that made some of the best teams in the land jealous of Kentucky football.
- Derrick Locke -- For redefining what determination looks like in the face of injury and lack of respect.
- Matthew Mitchell -- for finally bringing stability to the UK women's hoops program.
- Finally, to UK fans, for being the best fans any college team could have.
The news follows the jump.
- Stopping Cobb is Vols’ No. 1 priority | Vaught's Views
- Kentucky Downs Santa Barbara 68-54 to Extend Perfect Start - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
- Kentucky Suffers Heartbreaking Five-Set Loss at Tennessee - KENTUCKY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
- Maui Invitational: (24) Vanderbilt 84 - Arizona 72 - Postgame - Anchor Of Gold
SB Nation has a new Vanderbilt blog, Anchor of Gold. Great job by the Commodores taking care of the Arizona Wildcats. I don't care much for Arizona, and I was glad to see our SEC brethren hand them the loss they so richly deserve. - " BBL: Cats escape Cancun, Cobb escapes Tennessee John Clay’s Sidelines
John Clay's Big Blue Links - Rush The Court " Blog Archive " ATB: Karl Hess Isn’t Invited to Our Thanksgiving Dinner Either
The talent for this team to become something special is there, but it’s also painfully obvious that his Cats often rely on God-given abilities (especially on offense) rather than an actual understanding of strategy or the sets. Decisionmaking by some players, especially DeMarcus Cousins, is also troubling in their naivete and youthful indiscretion. For example, back to back horrendous decisions by Cousins late in the game to shoot a three (not his shot) and later to purposefully miss a FT attempt in a misguided attempt to get his own rebound only to foul Stanford in the process, exhibits these characteristics.
This is exactly right. UK, as a team, needs desperately to grow up. Unfortunately, there is not magic potion to make that happen, just time and mistakes. - UT looks for way to stop hometown star Cobb | theleafchronicle.com | The Leaf Chronicle
Is Randall Cobb the Kentucky version of Chris Lofton? I think so. - Sam Bowie Breaks Color Barrier at Country Club
- UK QB Fidler giving up final year of football | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
Wow. Just like Michael Porter, except he doesn't have a wife and kid on the way (that I know of). - Let UK seniors know why you are thankful for them | Vaught's Views
Great post by Larry Vaught. - Stanford vs. Kentucky - Recap - November 25, 2009 - College Basketball - SI.com
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If Cobb is payback for losing Lofton....
then we came out ahead.
I am thankful for that trade…
Thanks for all you do Tru — as well as Ken and all the contributors to the front page…
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 26, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions
One Difference
UK won 6 of 9 games versus Lofton at UT.
UK is 0-for-3 versus UT with Cobb.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 26, 2009 8:32 PM EST up reply actions
not yet....
only 0-1 with Cobb – unless you know something i don’t…..
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 26, 2009 8:57 PM EST up reply actions
I Thought He Was Senior
Sorry, my error.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 26, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
Alcoa TN
Home to ex-U of L head coach Wade Houston (many years ago).
He was not the best Houston brother from Alcoa – that would be Charles Houston, who played at UC in mid-1960’s but suffered a career end knee injury in 1966.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 27, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions
His play only makes him look like a senior!
another thing to be thankful for – cobb is only a soph…
only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team
by memphis wildcat on Nov 27, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks to all
who make this blog my daily blue vitamin. Even those that raise my blood pressure, make me shake my head and curse my computer.
Best wishes to Fidler in whatever he does; everyone makes a difference.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my ASOB friends!!
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 26, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions
Tubby comment.
After watching tubby call a timeout after a made 3pt shot and his gohpers on a 10-0 run, I was smilling! That is exactly why uk ran him outta town. He is affriad of the game getting away from him even with hi team on a 10-0 run! Today I am thankful for mr. Calipari and his new style of letting the kids be the heros! He would never intentionally stop a 10-0 run. Just crazy stuff from tubby.
by BornBlue84 on Nov 27, 2009 12:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions
No One Ran Anyone Out Of Town
And Minnesota defeated #12 ranked Butler by 82-73 tonight.
The Gophers were battling foul trouble. But they beat a ranked team anyawy.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 27, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
I still can't believe Butler gets ranked in the top 10
Kentucky’s win at Creighton last year in the NIT was all the validation I needed that these media darling mid-major programs don’t have the wherewithal to hang with the true top programs in the country.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Creighton Took Michigan (Ranked) Into OT Yesterday
Those teams are pretty tough.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 27, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
It blows my mind...
…How people insist on the “we ran him out of town” myth…
’Sota gonna be one of the top teams in the Big Ten this year… They will battle Mich. State for the title…
IMO
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
To go along with what Tru gave thanks for,
I give thanks that Les Miles is not our football coach.
I give thanks that Tim Tebow is a senior.
I give thanks that Billy G was not able to land Jai Lucas. (if he had, BG might still be here)
I'm thankful for everything UK this year
Except for JORTS. What a waste of a scholarship. I wish Pilgrim would’ve stayed and he would’ve been forced off the team. He gets way too much time, plays terrible, and makes the dumbest decisions. Let’s give his time to Perry.
Disagree
Jorts is a team player that knows and excepts his role on this team… Coach seen that, and that’s why his still here… He also appears to be a great level headed person as well, and that can only help a very young team…
He has shown that he can add value in giving our bigs a much needed break from time to time… Plus, he can hit the 3 when left open… With big Cuz prone to fouls and a possible ejection down the road, Jorts will be needed. He can give our team a lift in spot situations, especially at Rupp.
OH yea, GO STEELERS..!!!!!
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
I'll never wish for a UK player to be run off
Cal saw something in Harrelson that he liked. Pilgrim is in a situation where he can get some actual playing time. Everyone wins.
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
Have to agree with Doc & Vince...
Jorts is not a waste of a scholarship… How many bigs do we have that play around the hoop AND shoot the 3 ball?? Before PPat proved he can play facing the basket this year, we had one, and his name was Jorts! Didn’t you hear Cal say that his & Hood’s 3-balls were crucial in the last game?
Ups – Shoot the 3; makes the defense extend when he’s in there and that opens up gaps for the other players… Also a pretty good passer.
OKs – Decent rebounder; gives us another big when PPat/Orton/Cuz need a blow or another body in the rotation when we want to play big…
Downs – Footspeed; he’s a little slow, but I’d guess (my opinion here) if you racked and stacked him against other bigs around the country he’s probably in the middle of the pack in regards to speed…
Something else to think about, he’s practicing everyday against PPat/Orton/Cuz and his post game is only going to get better! He kinda reminds me of Mark Pope a little bit…
If your wings don't sweep....
yeah, what he said
I was so pleased that Cal chose to keep him around. I think he hasn’t reached his potential yet and we will see more and more from him. I swear that last year, every time that boy did one wrong thing, he was jerked out of the game, and never was in there long enough to develop the skill, confidence, and basketball smarts I feel he has the potential for. Will he be a legendary UK player? Seems unlikely, yet I do suspect that he has a lot to contribute and will only get better and better. And as others have said, he is big body, can shoot the open three, and gives us someone on the floor while the coaches are busy parenting Cuz.
by StillCatwoman on Nov 27, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Holy Crap!!
I’d forgetten about him… Talk about your “role player”!! :-) How many 3 balls did he make during that tourney run?? Sure did have a nice stroke… Thanks for the reminder, I can see that quasi-flattop of his as I type!! :-)
If your wings don't sweep....
Cameron Mills And Josh Harrellson In The Same Sentence?
i don’t any similarity. Mills was a key player in rotation in 1997 (especially latter half of season) and 1998.
Harrellson sees little PT and is not (yet) in the rotation.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 28, 2009 7:41 AM EST up reply actions
OK, I'll agree about Jorts not being in the rotation, yet...
Mills averaged about 10 minutes a game, Josh is at 6 a game right now, and the season is early… Maybe he’ll make a believer of ya?? :-)
If your wings don't sweep....
Mills
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Mills_Camerongbg.html He was a major factor in the second half of 1997 season after DA was injured.
He was a lesser factor (in PT minutes) in 1998 but very key to UK sucess anyway.
Harrrellson is a classic role player.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 28, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Worried about blood pressure for my ASOB friends
1. Tubby left town because he got tired of the demands a top 5 team placed on him. He is a great top twenty-five coach. That is not historically acceptable here.
2. Ramon deserves a break — Every great team has role players.
Here’s a stress reducer:
Breathe in, four counts
Hold, seven counts
Breathe out, eight counts.
Do this 8 times — suddenly the team looks pretty good.
I am still practicing this — my prep for our first loss, to, UNC?
No matter where you're at, there you are
Correction
- is false. Completely, utterly false. He plans to have a Top 5 team where he is now.
And he had Top 5 teams at UK in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005 = 5 of 10 seasons, which is EXACTLY the UK average since the first AP poll in 1949.
He changed jobs. Many of us have done that for a various reasons.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 27, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
Back-up Data And Yabbut
UK teams have been ranked Top 5 (in one poll or another, sometimes both) in the final polls 30 times since polls were first done (beginning in 1949).
UK ranked in Top 5 in W (overall and in NCAA tourney) and W-L (%) record, both overall and in NCAA tourney during his 10 years at UK.
REGARDLESS the change has benefitted BOTH – he is in a better place and Calipari is the best “fit” at UK since Adolph Rupp.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 27, 2009 7:13 PM EST reply actions
Why are we still rehashing this?
This is going on two coaches ago at this point.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
The "Left Town Because Of" Part Needs To Be Squashed Every Time
Pitino changed jobs. Tubby changed jobs. Hall retired. Different reasons, same principle.
Sutton left involuntarily. Gillispie also. Even Rupp left NOT by his choice.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 28, 2009 7:43 AM EST up reply actions
While
ran out of town is certainly a very strong statement there were few UK fans blocking Tubby’s way when he departed. UK is a good fit for Calipari and Minn is a better fit for Tubby. Billy G doesn’t fit in anywhere.
Thankfully
UK fans don’t get to make such decisions.
The UK AD and President do. They make the right decision sometimes (1989, 1997, 2009) and the wrong decision other times (1985, 2007).
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 28, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions
Well put.
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 28, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
...well
all except the Billy G part, ofcourse. ;)
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 28, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
Gillispie Is A GOOD Coach
He was a bad fit at UK.
He’ll be a GOOD coach somewhere else if he conquers his inner demons.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 28, 2009 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
Best comment ever, Forty! ;)
It is not worth an intelligent man’s time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 28, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
You did a great job Tru-
Of listing things to be thankful for!
"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"
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